Quick Guide to Blausee
Location: Blausee, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
From Kandersteg: About 10 minutes by car
Parking: CHF 5 up to 4 hours / CHF 10 over 4 hours
Kandersteg Guest Card: 15% discount on admission
Glass-bottom boat: Included with admission
Time needed: Around 2–3 hours
With kids: Very family-friendly
Best time: Early morning for fewer crowds
Before you go: Check the official Blausee website for current ticket prices, opening hours and boat availability. The Blausee – one of Switzerland’s loveliest mountain lakes – Blausee AG
Why We Visited Blausee
We stayed in Kandersteg during our trip through Switzerland, and Blausee was one of the places I really wanted to visit.
It is only about a 10-minute drive from Kandersteg, so it was an easy place to add to our itinerary with the kids.
We arrived early in the morning, and I’m so glad we did. It was still quiet, with only a few visitors around the lake.
And the first thing I thought when I saw the water was:
Is it really this blue?
The color almost didn’t look real.
The water was incredibly clear, and when it was still, the mountains and trees reflected beautifully on the surface.
Getting to Blausee from Kandersteg
Blausee is very easy to reach if you’re staying in Kandersteg.
We had a rental car, so we simply drove there in the morning. The drive takes around 10 minutes, making Blausee an easy half-day trip from Kandersteg.
There is a paid parking lot right by the entrance to Blausee Nature Park.
When we visited early in the morning, parking was easy and the park itself was still relatively quiet.
Parking at Blausee
According to the official Blausee website, parking currently costs:
CHF 5 for up to 4 hours
CHF 10 for more than 4 hours
Parking spaces cannot be reserved in advance, so arriving early can be helpful during busy periods.
For us, 2–3 hours was plenty of time to enjoy the lake without rushing.
Kandersteg Guest Card Discount
One useful thing we discovered was the Kandersteg Guest Card.
Because we were staying in Kandersteg, our accommodation provided us with a guest card that offers discounts on various attractions and transportation in the area.
Blausee is one of them.
At the time of our visit, the Kandersteg Guest Card gave us a 15% discount on admission.
So if you’re staying overnight in Kandersteg, definitely check whether your accommodation provides a guest card before buying your Blausee tickets.
Why Is Blausee So Blue?
The name Blausee literally means “Blue Lake” in German.
And it really lives up to its name.
Blausee was formed in a landscape shaped by a huge rockfall thousands of years ago. The lake is fed by clear underground spring water, which is one reason the water is so incredibly transparent.
We could see rocks, submerged trees and fish beneath the surface.
It was especially beautiful when the water was calm because the surrounding forest and mountains were reflected almost perfectly in the lake.
Trout in the Crystal-Clear Water
Our kids quickly became more interested in what was inside the lake.
There were so many fish!
Blausee is also known for its trout, and because the water is so clear, you can easily watch them swimming beneath the surface.
The park also has an organic trout farm that uses the cold, clean mountain water.
For our kids, spotting the fish became part of the fun.
The Glass-Bottom Boat Ride
One of our favorite experiences was the little boat ride on Blausee.
A boatman rows a traditional wooden boat across the lake, and part of the bottom is made of glass.
Because the water is so clear, you can look through the glass and see beneath the surface while you’re on the lake.
Even better:
the boat ride is included with your Blausee admission.
It isn’t a long cruise—the lake itself is quite small—but with kids, it was absolutely worth doing.
The little red boat against the blue-green water also looked incredibly beautiful.
Walking Around Blausee with Kids
Don’t just take a photo of the lake and leave.
There are easy walking paths through the forest and around the lake, and we really enjoyed exploring the area behind Blausee as well.
There is a stream running through the forest, plenty of benches and quiet places to sit.
We spent some time simply walking, watching the water and letting the kids explore.
It felt much more relaxing than trying to rush from one sightseeing spot to another.
A Playground in the Middle of Nature
Another reason Blausee worked so well for our family was the playground.
After walking around the lake and taking the boat ride, our kids were able to play outside surrounded by the forest and mountains.
There are also plenty of benches nearby, so we could sit and enjoy the scenery while they played.
The toilets were clean when we visited, which is always something I appreciate when traveling with children!
The Legend of Blausee
There is also a sad legend behind Blausee’s mysterious blue color.
According to the story, a young woman lost the man she loved and cried so much that her tears turned the lake blue.
There is even a sculpture of a young woman beneath the water.
Because the lake is so clear, you can look into the water and try to find her.
It’s a small detail, but it makes the lake feel even more mysterious.
How Long Do You Need at Blausee?
You could probably see the lake quickly in about an hour.
But I wouldn’t recommend rushing.
If you want to:
walk around the lake,
take the glass-bottom boat,
explore the forest and stream,
let the kids use the playground,
and simply sit and enjoy the scenery,
I would allow around 2–3 hours.
We went early in the morning, and I would choose the same time again.
Blausee is popular, and experiencing it before it became busy made it feel even more special.
Is Blausee Worth Visiting with Kids?
For us, definitely.
Blausee isn’t a huge lake, and you don’t need to hike for hours to reach it.
That’s actually part of what makes it so good for families.
You get incredibly clear blue water, mountain scenery, trout, an easy forest walk, a playground and even a glass-bottom boat ride—all in one relatively small nature park.
If you’re staying in Kandersteg, Blausee is especially easy to visit.
We loved Oeschinensee for its dramatic mountain scenery, while Blausee felt completely different:
smaller, quieter and almost magical.
And yes—the water really is that blue. 💙
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